“I think if Lady Mairead kent it she would have gone already.”
“Probably.”
“If General Reyes kent it we wouldna be havin’ this discussion.”
“We have to guard the book while we figure out what to do. And we need all the vessels under our control or we’re never safe.”
“Where is the book now?”
“The hotel room.”
We walked a hell of a lot faster.
* * *
In the hotel room I dug through my pack for the book. Once I found it, Magnus packed it beside the two vessels in his sporran.
He strapped his sword to his back and a dirk at his waist.
Then we hugged for a long time.
From in his arms, my hands on his strong back, my voice muffled against his chest, I said, “You know, this is frightening, but as Grandma Barb told me once, it’s always been there — this danger. That we know about it shouldn’t make us more scared. We’re human, we have brains, we can think our way through anything.” I pulled away and smoothed the hair back from my face. “She of course wasn’t talking about evil men and time travel, she was talking me through a fear I had when I was young that the people I loved were going to die, but still…” I smiled. “It applies. We’ll figure out what to do about the book.”
“We could go tae the time when Johnne Cambell wrote it and destroy it then.”
“Yeah. That’s within our skillset.”
“You can make a list of all the vessels and I can secure them.”
“List-making, also within our skillset.” We smiled. I added, “See, I just realized this ten minutes ago and already we have many great ideas. “We will kill General Reyes for fucking with our family.”
“Tis within my skillset.”
“Mine too.”
“Aye, mo ghradh, ye art a terrible arse.”
“So true.” I hefted the bags of food and the drink holder full of sodas. “And I’m about to be stuffed full of fast-food too.”
Chapter 68
We knocked on Quentin’s door again.
“You want to go and sit by the pool and eat? They have tables and it’s a beautiful evening.”
Beaty said yes, so we all went to the pool area. She kept her face hidden trying not to look at anything as we went.
“How are you?” I asked.
She said, “I am a’feelin’ it, tis too bright and I am fearful hungry.”
When we got to the pool area, it was already growing dark. We spread the food out on the table and then Magnus and I watched while Quentin sweetly showed Beaty how to eat everything and she sweetly kept her eyes closed but opened them when he teased her. She ate watching him for guidance.
I however had a quarter pounder in one fist, French fries in the other, and the straw positioned right in front of my mouth. Everyone laughed as I set my meal up perfectly and plowed into it.
Then through the lobby, I saw Zach, Emma, and Ben enter the hotel.
I waved them into the pool area and we all hugged.
“And this is Quentin’s wife, Beaty Peters.”
Zach, still standing, said to Quentin, “What the fuck is happening? How long were you gone?”
Quentin said, “About three days.”
Zach repeated, “What the fuck?” then recovered himself and shook Beaty’s hand while she was still clutching her face into Quentin’s shirt. “I’m very happy to meet you Beaty, this is my wife Emma and little Ben.”
She glanced quickly at them then pressed her face back to Quentin’s chest. “Tis verra nice tae meet ye as well.”
I said, “As you can imagine, it’s pretty overwhelming. She had no idea what was happening until she was literally time-jumping, so she could use some calm voices and maybe not so many ‘what the fucks’ at the top of your voice.”
“Point taken.” Zach sat down.
“And now you’re all chill and not freaking out at all, Magnus has bad news.”
Zach turned to Magnus, Emma turned to Magnus. Ben was sitting in Magnus’s lap beating the table with his wooden car.
Magnus said, “There is a man named General Reyes who is tryin’ tae kill me for unknown reasons, though I would guess tis because he wants m’crown. I ken I have been fightin’ him for many long years, but in this time it has only been a few months.”
“He’s the reason you can’t jump into Florida,” said Zach.
“Aye, Kaitlyn and I have been tryin’ tae get ahead of him, but he is cunnin’ and verra dangerous. Tis as if he has more information about us than we have of him, but I found out this mornin’ he kens much more than I thought.”
Zach said, “What does he know?”
“He kens your name. He kens ye have a family and ye reside on Fletcher Avenue.”
Zach kicked his chair out, stood, and said, “Fuck.” He glanced at me, “Sorry Katie, but this deserves it. He’s threatening me? My family?”
“Aye, he’s threatenin’ me, and because I consider ye a brother he is usin’ your name tae scare me, but aye, he is threatenin’ ye.”
Zach said, “I’m so tired of this bullshit. What are you going to do about it? I’m a fucking chef. I know a little sword-fighting but I can’t fight an army from Scotland, I don’t know how.”
“They are from Spain...”
“I don’t give a shit where they’re from, what are you going to do to protect us? And Quentin, he’s our security guard — is he going to live here now, protect us 24-7? Can he? I mean probably, right? But you keep taking him with you. And now he’s married?” He turned to Emma and shook his head.
Ben said, “Da-Da!” and waved his wooden car at Zach.
Zach turned back to Magnus. “You’re bringing a shitstorm down on me and Emma and Ben and we’ve got nobody to take our safety seriously.”
Magnus said, “I take your safety verra seriously, Chef Zach, you are my brother. I daena want tae put your family in danger.”
“Yeah, but it follows you.” He huffed and we all went quiet for a moment. “I’m sorry I got pissed, Magnus. This is just a lot to take in. I’ve never known you to do anything but try to keep us safe.”
“Thank ye for sayin’ so, Chef Zach, but I am feelin’ my failings verra much.”
“So what do we have to do?”
Ben pushed the car across the table with a vroom noise then slung the car off to the ground and laughed.
Magnus picked up the car and gave it back then said to Zach, “You will have tae move tae a safer location.”
“It’s just a few days before Christmas.”
I said, “I’m really sorry Zach.”
“Fuck.” He reached out for Emma’s hand across the table. “Anywhere?”
I said, “Yes, just not Florida.”
“Fine, where do you want to go babe?”
“I’ve always wanted to go to Austin. My aunt is there we could stay with her while we get a place.”
“Okay then.”
“You will have tae go from here. I will send Quentin with ye. You were nae wrong on that, Chef Zach. Twas nae fair tae take the security guard from ye. I will increase your pay so ye are comfortable, but ye will need tae be cautious while I fight this battle against Reyes.”
Zach nodded. “I get you.”
“I ask ye take care of Beaty, she will probably need some extra attention.”
We all looked over at Beaty, glommed onto Quentin’s front, her face in a wad of his shirt.
“Did ye have enough tae eat Beaty?”
“Aye, King Magnus.”
His brow lifted and he smiled at me. “Chef Zach will make ye some delicious food like this every day. Twill be verra good for ye and ye winna be scared soon. Except in cars they will afear ye greatly for a long time, but twill be okay, they winna hurt ye.”
She mumbled, “Aye, King Magnus, thank ye.”
Zach said, “We’ll get Hayley to send someone to the houses for the computers and I mean, we probably should move the safe again. We’ll have to get all the
important things shipped to us.”
“Speaking of, did you get the parchment appraised?”
“Not yet, but I looked at it under a light and it’s totally got a drawing there. If it’s a Da Vinci that would be fucking crazy. Do you think she steals it or just asks the artists for it—”
Hayley’s voice from the door of the hotel lobby. “Hey girl!!!”
“Hayley?”
She was coming out to the pool area with a man who had to be her new guy. He was very handsome and they were holding hands and both smiling. I jumped from my seat. “I’m so sorry I didn’t call you. I was having a meeting with Zach and Quentin and here you are!” I hugged her and said to the man she was with, “I’m Kaitlyn.”
“I’m Nick.” He had dark hair cut short with a swoop on top and a jawline that was square and excellent. He looked to be maybe twenty-nine, like not too old, but old enough to look like he was in charge of something.
His clothes were very nice, a dark jacket, a pale blue shirt, and dress slacks. Hayley looked beautiful wearing a little dress and tights with tall boots. She glowed.
Best part? He had nice eyes and was smiling. And Hayley looked ecstatic. “Zach said he was coming to see you and I was getting ready to go away with Nick but I really wanted to come see you and so he asked, ‘Baby, what’s got you down?’ And I said, ‘My bestie is only an hour and a half away, ’ and so here we are because he’ll do anything for me.” She rubbed her nose against his and then they kissed.
“Awwww, that’s so great. I’m so happy for you. Where are you guys going?”
“Atlanta, for Christmas.”
“So fun!” I squeezed her shoulders. “I’m so glad you came. I need to introduce you to Quentin’s wife.”
Hayley shook her head. “Uh uh, no way!”
Quentin said, “Yes way, this is Beaty Peters, my wife.”
“Whoa, I was not expecting that.” She hugged Beaty and Quentin at the same time. “Welcome to the family, Beaty. Quentin and I have been friends since... when did we start being friends? Like first grade?”
Quentin said, “Yep.”
She said to me, “Wow. Katie were you at the wedding?”
I nodded.
“Man I can’t believe you got married without me being there, but fine, we just have to have a party now, here, on this pool deck.” She looked around. “I see you have McDonald’s, did you plan this as a wedding reception, Kaitlyn?”
Chairs were shifted and Nick sat beside Magnus. Hayley sat on his other side, their hands clasped on his knee.
Magnus was jiggling Ben on his knee, but he wasn’t focused on him, he was instead fumbling with something in his sporran.
And I probably should have noticed then.
But it took a moment of slow motion for it all to register.
Quentin asked, “What’s up boss?” He took his eyes from Magnus, who wasn’t answering, and swept his eyes around the fence of the pool.
My eyes followed his. There was a dark sky, a glowing pool, visibility was not good, but across the dark pool area, just outside the darker fence, stood a man. His back was to us. He was wearing those old-fashioned clothes, the ones I was used to seeing on General Reyes’s men. A few feet beside him stood another man, and another. My gaze went around the perimeter, men stood about every three feet surrounding the fence.
My heart raced.
I looked back at Quentin, our eyes met.
I looked at Magnus.
His eyes said it all.
“Take Ben.” He thrust Ben toward me and one of our vessels and the small book dropped into my lap. I covered them with my skirts as Emma stood to take Ben.
She returned to her seat completely unaware of all the men, the tension, the danger surrounding us.
Quentin glanced at Magnus, a look passed between them.
Quentin said, “So Nick, I know we’ve hung out before but I think I forgot to get your last name?”
Nick’s facial expression was a broad charming smile as he said, “My full name is Nicholas Reyes.”
And my whole world went fucking kaboom into teeny tiny pieces.
Magnus’s hands were clasped, staring down at them, focused, bound within his body, tensed and furious. His arm about an inch from Nick’s arm.
He could kill him, but he couldn’t because we were all here, pressed close, people he loved.
The finger on his right hand twitched, gestured, Away.
Quentin pushed his chair back with loud scrape and stood.
Nick, no longer holding Hayley’s hand, said, “Why don’t you sit back down, Quentin Peters? You’ll need to be here for this.”
Beaty, having eaten more than she ever ate in her life, plus a Coke, plus some tastes of Quentin’s milkshake, said, “Och!” And leaned over her knees clutching her stomach.
I said, “Zach, Emma, up.” We stood, shoving our incredibly noisy chairs back. Emma dropped Ben into the sling perched on her hip.
Hayley asked, “What’s going on?”
Nick said, “Baby, this is nothing to worry about, Magnus and I go way back, and he and I need to discuss some things.”
His jacket fell open and exposed a gun in his lap, pointed at Magnus. “Isn’t that right Magnus? We can discuss it here with your family around you for support? That’s what Hayley tells me, you’re all one big family.”
Magnus’s voice was low and steady. “Nae, let them go, I will stay. I winna fight.”
I edged in front of Zach and Emma and we all took a step back. I had the vessel and the book pressed to my leg hidden in a fold of my skirt.
“Oh you won’t fight because if you do we’ll kill them all one by one while you watch and then we’ll kill you last.”
Nick shoved his chair back with a clatter so it fell to the ground. He yanked Magnus out of his seat and shoved him to his knees. He pressed his gun to Magnus’s temple.
Peripherally the men were all facing us now, half-hidden in shadows. I couldn’t tell if they were armed, but I had a guess.
Nick said to Magnus, “Take off your sword, throw it down.”
I watched as my husband quietly disarmed himself and tossed his sword with a clank to the ground.
“Your dirk, too.”
Magnus pulled the dirk from its sheath and placed it beside the sword.
Emma burst into tears.
Beaty vomited all over the ground. Quentin lifted her, still vomiting, and carried her to us.
Magnus looked up and met my eyes.
Go?
Aye.
I nodded in agreement, every part of me shaking.
Hayley had been frozen looking from face to face. She grabbed Nick’s arm. “I don’t understand. What’s happening?”
“Aw baby, don’t be upset, this is just a misunderstanding.”
“You’re scaring me.” She tried to pull his arm back.
He spun his gun in his fist so it was handle out, and back-swung, smacking her face with the heavy pistol. Hayley screamed and fell over the arm of the chair clutching her forehead.
Quentin tried to get his gun from his underarm holster in time but in a flash Nick had his gun back, aimed at Magnus.
“Quentin Peters, I wouldn’t do that. Because first, I will shoot Mags.” He asked Hayley. “Isn’t that what you call him, baby?”
She whimpered from the ground, “No, please don’t.”
“Then I’ll start shooting into your group. Who wants to die first? Or keep your hands where I can see them, toss your gun down, and kick it away.”
Hayley was writhing on the ground holding her eye, blood covering her hands.
Quentin un-holstered his pistol very slowly, placed it on the ground, and kicked it across the tiles.
Beaty moaned and stomach-heaved behind me.
I pleaded, “Hayley, come here. Please come to me.”
Hayley pulled herself slowly across the ground toward me.
“Come on Hayley, hurry.”
Quentin put his hands up and slowly walked
toward Hayley. “I’m not armed, I’m not doin’ nothing but getting Hayley, see? I’m just getting Hayley.”
Quentin picked Hayley up under her arms and dragged her to our group. She was crying and bleeding and—
Nick gripped Magnus’s hair yanking his head back. “Now see, I thought you would put up more of a fight than this, Mags the First. When I fought you in 2397, I never could get the upper hand, but you were alone then. Here you’re surrounded by people. I think they make you weak.”
Magnus growled, “I said I winna fight, just let them go.”
“Sure, I’m a gentleman and you’re as good as beat. Plus, I know where they’re going. When I want them I just have to go get them. Or better yet when I show up as the new king they can submit to me. Your wife is awfully pretty.”
I had to get us out of here. I twisted the ends of the vessel. The storm rose above us.
Nick and Magnus were buffeted by it.
I yelled over the wind to everyone. “Hold on to me. Okay? Just hold on.”
Nick said, “They’re leaving you, Mags, deserting you, how’s that feel?”
I started saying the numbers, like a prayer, the order memorized, begging the universe to get me and all these people out of here.
My eyes met Magnus’s eyes. The wind whipped my hair, the thunder boomed, lightning and storm clouds above us. My chosen family clutching my shirt sleeves, my skirts.
But not Magnus.
I love you.
I love ye too. Run.
I finished the numbers as Nick yelled, “How can they leave you? You should be furious, Mags. What the hell, I’ll just shoot one of them for leaving you in your time of need. That will be fun.”
He fired his gun toward us as the wind, the lightning, the thunder all built into a blast and the storm hit me with the full pain of a time-jump.
Chapter 69
I pulled myself from my agony, checked myself for a gunshot wound, then forced myself up. I was under the open night sky, on the landing pad at our castle, a helicopter right there, its rotor spinning, a gusting wind, and terrible noise. The security light on the wall over us was way too bright. I listened — far off explosions, the ground vibrated. I scanned around. A soldier was applying pressure to Hayley’s forehead, looking into her eyes, asking her questions.
Magnus and a Love Beyond Words Page 23